Wire drawing apparatus



June 13, 1933. E. w. LARSEN WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1v June 13, 1933. E. w. LARSEN WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W ///.A ZW Z fl-wfl W m W Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EINER W. LARSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Application filed December 10, 1930. Serial No. 501,210.

This invention relates to wire drawing apparatus, and more particularly to a wire drawing machine having driving means adapted to operate the machine at difi'erent speeds.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient mechanism whereby in addition to the usual high-speed operation, a

' relatively slow movement may be imparted to a capstan of a wire drawing machine to facilitate the stringing of the wire through the dies.

In one embodiment of the invention a wire drawing machine is arranged to be driven by a main motor and a main driving connection, and a low-speed driving means is connected to the main driving connection by an overrunning clutch, so that when the main m0- tor is operating at fullspeed the low-speed driving means becomes automatically inoperative, and when the main motor is reduced in speed or stopped the low-speed driving means upon being effective will be automatically connected to the main driving connection to drive the machine at low speed.

One feature of the invention lies in the provision of an auxiliary motor operatively connected through a speed reducing means to the overrunning clutch, which is made automatic in its operation by the provision of a plurality of pawls engaging a recessed sprocket wheel to drive the machine at slow speed while the wire is being strung through 35 the dies.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which "Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational View of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the upper half of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the supportingwalls of the housing ,45 being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters represent similar parts in the several views, a housing indicated generally at 10 has a front wall 11, a back wall 12 and a partition 13, in which capstan shafts 14 and 15 are journaled. Upon the forward ends of the capstan shafts 14 and 15 are mounted stepped capstans 16 and 17, respectively, for. receiving, and for use in advancing, a wire 18. Positioned between the partition 13 and the back wall 12 are a plurality of gears forming the main driving connection between a main motor 20 and the capstan shafts 14 and 15. These. gears (Figs. 1 and 2) consist of a pinion 21 mounted upon the capstan shaft 14 and in mesh with an idler gear 22 which is fixed to a stub shaft 23, journaled in the back wall 12 and the partition 13. A relatively large gear 24 is fixed to the capstan shaft 15 and meshes with the idler gear 22 to connect operatively this shaft with the capstan shaft 14.

A second idler gear 26 meshes with the gear 24 and with a gear 27 upon the shaft of motor 20. The aforementioned structure constitutes the driving means for the wire drawing machine during its operation at normal or high speed.

An auxiliary driving means is provided for rotating the capstans 16 and 17 in the same direction as the main motor rotates them but at a relatively slow rate of speed, and comprises an auxiliary motor 30 operatively connected through a speed reducing mechanism 32 to a clutch indicated generally at 31. The speed reducing mechanism has one end operatively connected to the auxiliary motor 30 by means of a sprocket wheel and chain connection 33 and the other end connected through a chain 34 (Fig. 4) to the clutch 31.

Clutch 31, shown in elevation in Fig. 2 and in enlarged sectional views in Figs. 3 and 4, comprises a casing 35 rigidly mounted upon the partition 13, concentric with the capstan shaft 14 and having an elongated aperture 36 in the peripheral wall thereof, through which the chain 34 extends. The casing 35 has an offset annular flange 37 spaced from the capstan shaft 14 and to which a sleeve 38 is secured, the sleeve extending within the casing to form a race for a roller bearing designated generally as 39. Disposed within the casing 35 and mounted upon the roller bearing 39 is a sprocket 43 around which the chain 34 extends. An annular extension 44 of the sprocket 43 has spaced recesses 45 in the peripheral wal-l thereof forming abutting shoulders 46. Fixedly mounted upon the capstan shaft 14 and extending over the extension 44 of the sprocket 43 is a pawl supporting member or Wheel 47 having pivot pins 48 horizontally disposed in spaced relation therein for pivotally supporting pawls 49, the free ends of which are receivable in the recesses 45 and arranged to abut the shoulders 46.

To rotate the capstans 16 and 17 at a relatively slow speed so that an operator may readily and quickly string the wire 18 through dies in die blocks 50 and 51 and around the capstans 16 and 17 and idler sheaves 52 and 53, the main motor 20 is deenergized and the auxiliary motor 30 is energized to impart a relatively slow counterclockwise rotative movement to the sprocket 43, as indicated in Fig. 4. The free ends of one or more of the pawls 49 carried by the upper portion of the wheel 47, will thereupon, of their own weight, drop into the adjacent recesses 45 of the extension 44, thus effecting an operative connection between the sprocket 43 and the wheel 47 to cause a counterclockwise rotation of the capstan shaft 14 (Fig. 4). Due to the operative connection of the capstan shaft 14 with the capstan shaft 15, there is a simultaneous rotation of the capstans at a uniform speed sufliciently slow to permit an operator to pull the wire 18 through each of the dies on the die blocks 50 and 51, thus eliminating the necessity for jogging the large main motor. The term jogging relates to the previous practice of stringing the wire in the wire drawing machines wherein a high speed motor is the means for actuating the wire drawing mechanism and as the high speed motor rotates the capstans at a rapid rate of speed it has been necessary to start and stop the high speed motor in a jerking manner during the threading operation.

As 'long as the main motor 20 remains unenergized and the auxiliary motor 30 is energized, there remains an operative connection between the capstan shafts and the motor 30 through the clutch 31, due to the engagement of the pawls 49 with the abutting shoulders 46 of the recesses 45.

When the wire has been threaded through the dies and strung on the capstans and idler sheaves, the main motor 20 may be energized to rotate the capstans 16 and 17 at the desired speed for drawing the wire. Preferably the main motor will not be started until the auxiliary motor is at rest, but it may be started while the auxiliary motor is running. In either case, the member 47, which pivotally supports the pawls 49 and is fixed to the capstan shaft 14, is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4) at an angular velocity greater than that of the sprocket 43, so that even though the auxiliary motor 30 is operating at the time that the main motor 20 is energized, the pawls 49 will be swung outwardly about their pivots and held in close engagement with the inner wall of the member 47 by centrifugal force.

lVhile the invention has been described with special reference to a wire drawing machine, it will be understood that it has other applications, and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a wire drawing machine having a housing, a capstan external to the housing for advancing a wire through dies, a shaft for said capstan fixed thereto and extending within the housing, and means external to the housing operatively connected to said shaft at a point within the housing for rotating said shaft and said capstan at a relatively high rate of speed, of means for rotating said shaft and said capstan at a relatively low rate of speed when said first named rotating means is rendened ineffective, including a clutch disposed within the housing concentric to said shaft.

2. In combination with a wire drawing machine having a housing, a capstan external to said housing for advancing a wire through dies, a shaft for said capstan fixed thereto and extending within said housing, a main power means external to said housing and operatively connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft at a relatively high rate of speed, means for rotating said shaft and said capstan at a relatively low rate of speed when said main power means is rendered ineflective, said last named means comprising an auxiliary power means located within said housing, a clutch within said housing and disposed concentric to said shaft and having a rotatable member operatively connected to said auxiliary power means, and means fixedly mounted upon said shaft for effecting an operative connection between said rotatable member and said auxiliary power means when said auxiliary means is actuated.

3. In combination, a machine having a capstan for advancin a strand through dies, a housing, a shaft or said capstan fixed thereto and extending within said housing, means external to said housing operatively connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and said capstan at a relatively high rate of speed, means for rotating said shaft and said capstan at a relatively low rate of speed when said first named rotating means is rendered ineffective, said last named means comprising a pawl supporting member fixedly mounted within said housing upon said shaft, pawls pivotally carried by said pawl supporting member, and a rotatable member disposed within said housing and concentric with said shaft and having recesses therein for receiving said pawls when said rotatable member is actuated.

4. In combination, a machine having a capstan for advancing a strand through dies, a housing, a shaft for said capstan fixed thereto and extending through said housing, means external to said housing operatively connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and said capstan at a relatively high rate of speed, means for rotating said shaft and said capstan at a relatively low rate of speed when said first named rotating means is rendered ineffective, said last named means comprising a pawl supporting member fixedly mounted upon said shaft within said housing, pawls pivotally carried by said pawl supporting member, a rotatable member disposed within said housing concentric with said shaft and having recesses therein for receiving said pawls when said rotatable member is actuated, and means for rotating said rotatable member for rotating said pawl supporting member through the aid of said pawls.

5. In combination, a machine having a housing, a capstan external to the housing for advancing a strand through dies, a shaft for said capstan fixed thereto'and extending within the housing, means external to said housing operatively connected to said shaft within said housing for rotating said shaft and said capstan at a relatively high rate of speed, means for rotaflng said shaft and said capstan at a relatively low rate of speed when said first named rotating means is rendered ineffective, said last named means comprising a pawl supporting member fixedly mounted within said housing and upon said shaft, pawls pivotally carried by said pawl supporting member, a rotatable member disposed within said housing concentric with said shaft and having recesses therein for receiving said pawls when said rotatable member is actuated, means located within said housing for rotating said rotatable member for rotating said pawl supporting member through the aid of said pawls, said pawls being free to move out of said recesses when said pawl supporting member is rotated faster than said rotatable member, said first named means being adapted to rotate said pawl supporting member relative to said rotatable member.

6. A Wire drawing machine comprising shafts respectively bearing a first and a second capstan and geared together so that the second capstan has a higher speed than the first capstan, a main motor connected to said first capstan shaft to drive the machine at its normal speed, and an auxiliary motor connected to said second capstan shaft to drive the machine at a reduced speed.

7. In a wire drawing machine, a housing having a partition therein, a pair of shafts journalled in said housing and extending through said partition, individual capstans mounted on the shafts external to the housing, a main power means located external to said housing, transmission means connecting said main power means and said shafts, auxiliary means located within said housing for rotating the shafts when the main power means is inoperative, said auxiliary means including an overrunning clutch secured to said partition and concentric with one of said shafts.

8. In a wire drawing machine, a housing having a partition therein, a pair of shafts ournaIled in said housing and said partitron, individual capstans mounted on said shafts external to said housing, a main motor external to said housing, transmission elements connecting said main motcrand one of said shafts for driving said shafts, and means for driving said capstans at a reduced speed comprising an auxiliary motor, a clutch and transmission elements connecting said auxiliary motor and said clutch, said clutch being located within the housing and concentric with the other of said shafts, and said auxiliary motor and said last mentioned transmission elements mounted within said housing adjacent said shafts,

9. In a wire drawing machine, a housing having a partition therein, a pair of shafts journalled in said housing and extending through said partition, individual capstans mounted on the shafts external to the housing, a main. power means located external to said housing, transmission means connecting said main power means and said shafts, auxiliary means located within said housing for rotating the shafts when the main power means is inoperative, said auxiliary means including a power source and transmission elements adjacent said shafts and a clutch concentric with one of said shafts.

10. In a wire drawing machine, a housing having a partition therein, a pair of shafts journalled in said housing and said partition, individual capstans mounted on said shafts external to said housing, a set of transmission elements connecting said shafts and located within said housing on one side of said partition, a main motor externalto said housing,

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a second set of transmission elements connecting said main motor and one of said shafts for driving said shafts, and means for driving said capstans at a reduced speed com- 5 prising an auxiliary motor, a clutch and a third set of transmission elements connecting said auxiliary motor and said clutch, said clutch being mounted on the other of said shafts within the housing on the other side of said partition, and said auxiliary motor and said last mentioned transmission elements mounted within said housing on said last mentioned side of said partition,

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28 day of November A. 1)., 1930.

'EIN'ER W. LARSEN. 

